Today we visited the Blarney Castle and Gardens to kiss the Blarney Stone. Our visit was divided into three parts. First, we took a walk through a lovely forest that had beautiful tall trees, as well as a fern garden and a horse graveyard. Next, we went to the Blarney Castle, climbed to the top, and kissed the Blarney Stone to get the gift of eloquence.
Blarney Castle and Gardens
After visiting and kissing the Blarney Stone, we went to a place in the castle grounds called the “Rock Close“. It was a very magical sort of place, and it was my favourite out of everything that we saw today. To enter, we had to walk through an arch made out of trees. When we came through, we saw amazing things….
Magical Tree Arch
Dolmen
This is a huge rock balanced on top of two others that is said to be a portal or a place of burial. Some also say that the rock moves! This rock reminds me of the pictures of Stonehenge that I’ve seen.
Witch’s Stone
The stone is said to hold the witch that gave the Blarney Stone its power to grant people eloquence. She is also known as the Blarney Witch. For good luck, some people leave “offerings” on the stone. This reminds me of a book where the main characters had to capture a shadow with a rock to defeat their enemy. The book is called “The Serpent’s Shadow” by Rick Riordan.
Witch’s Stone
Wishing Steps
If you walk up and down the stairs with your eyes closed and don’t think about anything except for your wish, it will come true within a year! I would tell my wish, but then it may not come true, so I will inform you when it does.
The sign for the Wishing Steps
Druid’s Cave
Unfortunately, the information sign outside the cave was gone so I’m not quite sure what it’s for. Nevertheless, it is very impressive and does look like it houses or has housed Druids. This reminds me of a show I watched about King Arthur, called “The Adventures of Merlin”, that had the Druids in it.
The Druid’s Cave
When you go to these places, you can almost feel the magic that surrounds you…
Mikhaila recently graduated from the University of Western Ontario in Canada studying Biology and Computer Science. In her program, she enjoyed all kinds of lab work, especially when it involved going into the field to collect specimens. Mikhaila loves singing and music and was part of her university’s acapella club for a few years! In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing the ukulele, and listening to comedy podcasts. Mikhaila is excited for more new travelling experiences!
Comments
7 responses to “In a Magical Land Far, Far Away….”
Karen Grose
Hi Mik…so happy you are feeling the magic. What is the gift of eloquence? It is fascinating and we are inspired to know more……love karen and jaime
Katina
Hello Karen and Jaime!
Hope you’re having a great summer so far! In response to your comment, the gift of eloquence is the gift of smooth talking. To put it another way, Winston Churchill kissed the Blarney Stone before he said some of his famous and inspiring speeches.
Great hearing from you and keep in touch!
From,
Mikhaila
Karen
Mikhaila:
Glad you got your wish of kissing the blarney stone. Sounds like you are having many memorable adventures.
DOREEEN
Hi Mikhaila
Sounds like another wonderful day in Ireland. Did you get a picture of you kissing the Blarney Stone? Love to the rest of the family. Teta Doreen
Laura L.
Mikhaila, it’s great that you’re making so many connections between the wonderful things you’re seeing and your own experiences!
Chris
It’s good that you can sense the magical energy, Mikhaila. There’s lots of special places in England like this. Let us know how Stonehenge is for you.
Glad you’re all having such a great time.
Nicola Phillips
So thrilled that you are sharing your experiences as you go. ALMOST …feels as though we are travelling with you! Thanks for taking the time to do your posts, I am really enjoying them.
nicola
Comments
7 responses to “In a Magical Land Far, Far Away….”
Hi Mik…so happy you are feeling the magic. What is the gift of eloquence? It is fascinating and we are inspired to know more……love karen and jaime
Hello Karen and Jaime!
Hope you’re having a great summer so far! In response to your comment, the gift of eloquence is the gift of smooth talking. To put it another way, Winston Churchill kissed the Blarney Stone before he said some of his famous and inspiring speeches.
Great hearing from you and keep in touch!
From,
Mikhaila
Mikhaila:
Glad you got your wish of kissing the blarney stone. Sounds like you are having many memorable adventures.
Hi Mikhaila
Sounds like another wonderful day in Ireland. Did you get a picture of you kissing the Blarney Stone? Love to the rest of the family. Teta Doreen
Mikhaila, it’s great that you’re making so many connections between the wonderful things you’re seeing and your own experiences!
It’s good that you can sense the magical energy, Mikhaila. There’s lots of special places in England like this. Let us know how Stonehenge is for you.
Glad you’re all having such a great time.
So thrilled that you are sharing your experiences as you go. ALMOST …feels as though we are travelling with you! Thanks for taking the time to do your posts, I am really enjoying them.
nicola